Pianissimo device.



PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

I H. METZGBR. PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1906.

7 QVNVENTOR ffizry Jfelzyer gW/TNESSES ATTORNEYS HENRY METZGER, OFCASTLETON,-NEW YORK.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed June 20,1906. Serial No. 322,567.

To a, whom it 771,114 concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ME'rzeER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Castleton, in the county of Rensselaer and State of NewYork, have invented new and Improved Pianissinzo Devices, of which thefollowing is a-full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to upright pianos; and its object is to provide anew and improved piano-action arranged'to take up all lost motionbetween the jack and the hammer-butt when the soft pedal is used.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then ointedout in the claims.

A practica embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a cross-sect on ofv the improvement', showing the parts inposition when the soft pedalis off; and Fig.2 is a like view of thesame, showing the parts in position when the soft pedal is on.

It is well known that when the soft pedal is pressed in ordinary pianosand the hammer-rest rail is swung rearwardly then the hammer-butt movesaway from the u per end of the jack, and when the key is su sequentlypressed and the jack is raised, it moves a distance inactively beforerengaging the hammer-butt and impartingmovement to the han'nner. Tocompensate or overcome this inaction or lost motion of the jack is theobject of the invention, presently to he described in detail. 4

Each key A of the piano-action engages by the capstan B the extension C,pivotally connected at its upper end with a lever D, also pivotallyconnected with the wippen E, fulcrumed on the fixed center rail F. Thewippen E carries the jack G, engaging the butt II of the hammer H,adapted to sound the string I and normally resting on the hammer-restrail J, capable of being thrown into a half-stroke position uponpressing the soft pedal in the usual manner. The leyer D normally restsflat against the under side of the wippen E, {see Fig. 1,) and its freeend abuts against the licveled face K of an auxiliary rail K, pivotallyconnected by arms K to the center rail l. The ends of the auxillowerends of levers L, fulcrumed between their ends on the center rail F, andconnected at their upper ends with the ham-' mer-rail J N ow when thehammer-rail J is swung rearward into a half-stroke osition on pressingthe soft pedal then a orward swinging motion is given to the auxiliaryrail K, (see Fig. 2,) whereby the latter imparts a swinging motion tothe lever D, now turning on the extension C as the fulcrum, so that anupward-swinging motion is given to the wip pen E to keep, the upper endof the jack G in engagement with the hammer-butt H.,

When the key A is now pressed, the extension C imparts a swinging motionto the lever D, the latter now turning on the beveled face K of theauxiliary rail K as the fulcrum, whereby the wippen E is swung upwardand the jack G imparts a swinging motion to the hammer H to sound thecorres onding string I. It will be noticed that wfien the auxiliary railK is swung forward, as abovede scribed and shown in Fig. 2, the lever Das sumes an angular 'positlon relative to the wippen E as the first endof the lever D moves downward, and the other end, which is pivotallyconnected with the wippen E, rises to "keep the u per end of the 'ack Gin engagement wit the hammerutt H, and hence all lost motion between thesaid jack G and the hammer-butt H is avoided when the soft pedal ispressed. The lever D is referably provided with felts D and D orengagement with the wippen E and the face K, as will be readilyunderstood by reference to the drawings, to avoid undue noise and vibration.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the compensating device shownand described is actuated from the hammer rail J and connects with theextension C and the wippen E to insure contact or enga ement of the uper end of the hammer H. a

The device is very simple and durable in construction, composed ofcomparatively few parts, and not order.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters,

Patent 7 1. A pia'nissirpo device comprising a hammcr, a hammer-restrail, a center rail, an auxiliary, rail, an extension, a M en, a leverfuler'umed on the extension and haVing one iary rail K are pivotallyconnected with the l end engaging the auxiliary rail and the other iableeasily to get out.,,ef-" T.

pivotally lack with t e butt Hof t e I I ice med to the xvi-open, e jackconnected w gpen and engaging the henimen "ever .tniezumed on the centermil and tiled ends pivoteii eonneeted -V 5L mat, and the auxiliaryxieniss ilfif-IGSh r211 a center rail, an m1}, an extension, 8. wlppen,a'lever oted to the wiipen, jack connected 1 eoy the movement ofinipzn'ted to the euxthe extent of'ionl ied on the extension and havingone mg the eumhery fall and the other i i i with the Wippen and engagingthe hmnmer, and :1 lever fulcrumeal on the center rail and having itsends pivotulty connected with the hennnemest rail and the zuL'iiizn-ymil, respectively whereby the movement of the hammer-rest mil isimparted to the auxiliary rail to very the extent of longitudinal1novement thereof.

In testimony whereoii I have signed my name to this specification in011% presence of 25 two subscribing; Witnesses.

HENRY METZGER. Witnesses:

GEORGE T. CHANDLER, JOHN A. METZGER.

